“Animation is a vibrant and vital genre that spans stories for all ages and lives on for generations. The sound mixing being done in animation deserves to be recognized and honored,” said David E. Fluhr, president of CAS.

The 49th CAS Awards will be held Feb. 16 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

As previously announced, Chris Newman will receive the organization's highest honor, the CAS Career Achievement Award, during the ceremony. The production sound mixer has won Oscars for The English Patient, Amadeus and The Exorcist.

In a career that spans more than 40 years, he has been the production sound mixer on more than 85 films, including The French Connection, The Godfather, Silence of the Lambs, Sophie's Choice, The Manchurian Candidate and Fame.

This season, CAS will also separate the television series honor into two categories: Outstanding sound mixing for television series — half hour, and outstanding sound mixing for television series -- one hour. The category for DVD original programming has been discontinued.

CAS will also add recognition of ADR and foley mixers in motion picture, television movies and miniseries and television series (one hour) categories — while continuing to honor the production mixer, re-recording mixers and scoring mixer in these areas. “ADR and Foley is an integral part of the overall sound mix of a project,” said Fluhr.